12.17.2015

Douglas C. Bernstein, a partner at Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest full-service law firms, was recently appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to serve on the City of Pontiac Receivership Transition Advisory Board (RTAB).

The board was first named in August of 2013 after the city of Pontiac transitioned back to local control.

In addition to Bernstein, the City of Pontiac RTAB includes Edward Koryzno, representing the State Treasurer; Robert Burgess, representing the Director of the Department of Technology, Management; and Budget, and Keith Sawdon, representing members with relevant professional experience.

Bernstein, Plunkett Cooney's Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Practice Group Leader, focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, commercial loan restructuring and documentation, creditors’ rights, commercial and municipal bankruptcy, receiverships and other banking-related litigation and appeals on behalf of national and regional lenders and special servicers.

Prior to joining Plunkett Cooney, Bernstein worked as an in-house attorney at Michigan National Corporation for over 20 years.  He subsequently joined the Standard Federal Bank Legal Department when the bank merged with Michigan National Corporation in 2001.

Bernstein earned his undergraduate degree in 1978 from Wayne State University and his law degree in 1982 from the Detroit College of Law. He has received several honors for his legal work, including an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading peer-to-peer professional ratings service, and selection as a Michigan Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine from 2008 to 2015 and a Leading Lawyer in Banking & Financial Institutions Law / Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial / Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections Law by Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan in 2015.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Bernstein's municipal bankruptcy practice includes serving as counsel to charitable foundations in connection with City of Detroit bankruptcy "Grand Bargain." This has led him to serve as a resource to local, regional and national media on the city's financial emergency status and Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy filing.

For more information about Public Act 436 of 2012, the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act, visit the Local Government Fiscal Health page on the Department of Treasury’s website at www.michigan.gov/treasury.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney employs 150 attorneys in nine Michigan cities and one each in Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading, international directory of law firms and is listed among the U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in 2016. Plunkett Cooney has also received several awards naming the firm as a top place to work within the legal industry.

To read the state's press release on Bernstein's appointment, click here.

For more information about Bernstein’s RTAB appointment, contact the firm’s Director of Marketing and Business Development John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.

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